Theft-preventing alarm and locking means for automobiles



H. P. TAYLOR.

THEFT PREVENTING ALARM AND LOCKING MEANS FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 14. I917.

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M 2 we m a u 4 6 H. P. TAYLOR.

THEFT PREVENTING ALARM AND LOCKING MEANS FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE l4| I917.

Patented. Jan. M), W22.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Harvey 2? Tag? M, m M dmmeyfi if n w as @r Mono HARRY I". TAYLOR. OF L08 AI'IGELES. CALIFORNIA.

THEFT-PREVEN T11? G ALii f Application filed June 14,

7'0 aZZ "Ac/1.0721 it may concern.

Be it known that l, HARRY P. TAYLOR, a citizen oi the United tates, residing at Los Angeles, in the county 01 Los Angeles and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvement in Theft-Preventing Alarm and Looking Means for Automobiles, or which the following is a full, clear, concise. and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to theft preventing a arm and locking means for automobiles and the like.

it is a familiar fact that automobiles are constantly subject to theft, particularly in the larger cities, even under the eyes 01 the police ofiicers. Numerous schemes for looking va ious parts of the car have been proposed. 7

it is against the ordinances or fire regulations of most cities to lock a car so that it cannot be moved particularly in case oi": fire.

My invention aims to provide an alarm which is set by the owner or authorized driver upon leaving the car and which automatically operates to give a signal when the car is moved, indicating that the car is not in the hands of the owner or authorized driver.

My invention aims further to provide a means for locking the change gears in neutral and to provide interlocking means between the alarm and the change gear locking means.

in order to apprise those skilled in the art of the manner in which to practice and utilize my invention I shall describe with the aid the accompanying drawings which form a part of the present specification, an embodiment of the invention in several terms.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of a gear be and gear showing the alarm mechanism in place;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the same showing the alarm in unlocked p01 si Lon;

Figure 3 is a modified form in which the lock is placed outside of a plunger;

Figure 4: shows a typical gear box with Specification of Letters Patent.

BEND LOCKING- IVIEANE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Patented Jan. it 1%22.

1917. Serial No. 174,727.

gear shifting means adapted to receive the alarm device of my invention;

Figure 5 is a section taken on the line showing the alarm device in position;

Figure 6 is a section taken on the line 6*6 of Figure at showing the means for locking the gear shifting mechanism when the alarm is locked in operative position; and Figure 7 is a diagrammatic sectional viewot' an automobile showing the manner of employing my invention. 7

My invention provides means which will cause an alarm to be sounded upon the unauthorized movement of the automobile.

As previously explained, an alarm or look which locks the running mechanism of the automobile violates ordinances in most of the larger cities and hence is not generally useful. Any alarm which has its parts easily accessible is useless because automobile thieves are experts in rendering); inoperative such an alarm. Any device which causes the driver inconvenience or annoyance is impracticable. My device is so placed as to render it impossible to tamper with the same and is so connected that any movement of the car either backward or forward will actuate the alarm. To this end the alarm is connected with the driving wheel and while 1 have shown it as connected with a gear upon the propeller shaft, it is to be understood that the alarm may be elsewhere connected.

The alarm which I provide comprises a tongue or reed 1 of a flexible nature which is m' unted upon a plunger 2 and is adapted to be pushed down into operative engagement with the teeth 3 of a gear at which is connected to the propeller shaft 5 that drives the wheels of the automobile. The gear 4 is mounted on the interior of the gear box 6 as shown in Figure l and preferably consists ot one of the shittable gears in the gear box. It is to be understood that the reed or tongue 1 may co-operate with a fixed gear, if so desired. The gear box 6 is provided with a lug 7 which is bored out to guide the plunger 2 and to steady the same. The plunger 2 passes through a lug 8 on the top of the cover 9, this lug 8 being bored out to guide the upper enlarged end of the plunger 2. The lug 8 extends inwardly from the cover 9 and is provided with a cap 11 bored out to receive the lower end of the plunger 2 and to confine the coil spring 12 between the up per enlarged portion 10 and the cap 11.

A suitable key and keyway on the plunger 2 and the bore of the lug 7 asindicated at 13, are provided for preventing turning of the plunger 2.

The upper end of the plunger 2 is rovided with a pin tumbler lock of the ale type or any other desired type which extends down inside of the tumbler 2 having a cam shaft 15 bearing cams at the lower end thereof for engaging the locking pawls 16. These locking pawls are formed in the shape of hell crank levers pivoted at 17 in the plunger 2, their inner arms being engaged by the cams on the lower end of the shaft 15 and the outer end being adapted to move out laterally through the slot in which they are mounted when the plunger is pushed downward and to engage the lower side of the lug 7 thereby to lock the plunger in its lower position and to hold the reed or tongue 1 in operative engagement with the teeth of the gear 1. Springs 18 engage the inner arms of the locking pawls 16 tending to throw them out of the slot in which they are mounted.

Thus in order to set the alarm, all that is'necessary is to press down upon the top portion 10 of the plunger 2 against the spring 12 until the locking pawls 16 clear the lower base of the lug 7. These locking pawlsthen spring out and prevent retrograde movement of the plunger. The reed or tongue 1 drops between adjacent teeth where it is held by the locking pawls 16. If the automobile is moved in either direction, the ear 4 is correspondingly moved and the I reed or tongue 1 acts as a clapper, giving an alarm which indicates that the automobile is used in an unauthorized manner.

When the owner of the car or his authorized agent wishes to disconnect the alarm,

theproper key which is shown in dotted lines at 19 in Figure 2 is inserted in the barrel of the slot and the shaft 15 is turned until the cams on the lower end of it bring the locking pawls 16 within the slots in which they are mounted and the spring 12 moves the plunger upward bringing the reed or tongue 1 with it out of engagement with the teeth 3 of the gear 4.

In Figure 3 I have indicateda modification in which an ordinary lock 20 is fastened on the lower side of the cover 9 having its barrel 21 extending up for the insertion of the key. In this case the plunger 2 is provided with a tapered collar 22 which is adapted to engage with the bolt 23 of the lock 2i) when the plunger is pushed down so that the reed 1 engages the teeth 3 of the gear 4.

It is apparent from Figures 1 and 2 that removal of the cover is ineffective as the locking pawls 16 engage a part which is fastened to the gear box itself and thus the cover is locked upon the gear box. In the form shown in Figure 3 the lock 20 is placed upon the bottom of the gear box lid and hence the lock does not secure the cover or lid 9 upon the box. It is obvious, however, that the lock 20 may be so positioned that it will not only insure engagement of the reed or tongue 1 with the teeth 3 but will also insure that the cover 9 will be locked in position.

In Figures 1, 5 and 6 I have illustrated the manner in which the locking means for the reed or tongue 1 is interlocked with means for locking the gear shift mechanism.

As shown in Figure 1 the engine or driving shaft 24 is adapted to be connected directly to the propeller shaft 5 or to be connected by means of the various change gears through the countershaft 25 to the propeller shaft 5.

The gears l and 26 are adapted to be shifted by means of the shaft 27 and the sleeve 28. I provide the shaft and sleeve with registerin notches into which the lower end 29 of the hook 30 is adapted to drop for locking these parts against movement when the gears are in neutral position. The hook 230 is pivoted to the wall of the gear box 6 as is shown in Figures 4 and 6. An arm 31 connected between the slide or plunger 2 and the hook 30 prevents the reed or tongue 1 from being moved into engaging position with the gear wheel l unless the gears are in neut 'al position and vice versa when the tongue 1 is properly in position to engage the teeth of the gear 1 the gear shifting mechanism is locked so that it is impossible to operate the car under its own power.

This reed 1 may be considered as a movable element which causes the generation of a sound which is considered as an alarm signal. I do not intend to be limited to the production of this sound by the striking of the reed 1 against the teeth 3 but consider it to be within my invention to generate the sound in any other manner, such as by employing the movement of the reed 1 in cans abell to be struck or a diaphragm to be vi orated.

In Figure 7 I have shown the gear box 6 as connected between the propeller shaft 5 which is geared at all times to the driving wheels 32, and the driving shaft 24 which is adapted to be connected to the engine 3% through the clutch 33.

While IL have described the invention with reference to the particular features of construction of a specific embodiment, it is to nae/3,275;

be understood that the embodiment of the invention may be varied Without departing "from the invention.

claim:

'ombination, an automobile pro- :1 it, a gear box havin gears for be driving ratio between engine propeller shaft, said shaft having a gear iaid box lined on the shaft, a plunger mounted in said gear box, a reed or tongue i to said plunger, said reed or ing adapted to engage the teeth of and means for automatically loclrthe reed or tongue in engagement with ,id gear.

2. in combination an automobile propeller shaft, a gear box having gears for varying the driving ratio between the engine and said shait, said shaft having a gear in the box, a plunger mounted in the side walls of said box, a reed or tongue connected to said plunger, said reed or tongue being adapted to engage the teeth of said gear, and means -or automatically looking the reed or tongue in engagement with said gear, means for changing the driving relation of the gears in said gear box and locking means for said changing means controlled by said plunger.

-5. in combination an automobile propeller shaft, a gear box having gears for varying the driving ratio between the engine and said sha' said shaft having a gear in the box, a plunge mounted in the side walls of said box, a reed or tongue connected to said plunger, said reed or tongue being adapted to the teeth of said gear, and means for a itonniticall v locking the reed or tongue in ei'igagement with said gear, means for changing the driving relation of the gears in said box and locking means for said changing means controlled by said plunger, and inter 'ing means between he gear change lot... means and t ie reed or tongue locking means.

l. in an automobile, a rotatable element positively and operatively connected to the wheels ot the automobile rotation therewith when \x'heels, moducing 1 operating means for rela- -id rotatable element and sound producing element for bringing into and out of operative en 'age y releasable locking means for lockthe two elements in operative engageerating means being adapted to said rotatable element and p oducing element into operative engagement independently or the key of said eleasable locking means, and means preiting access by an unauthorized person to di er said rotatable element and said sound producing element.

5. In combination, a movable clement ted to be cc nected to the wheels of obile,'seriations upon said element, a sounding reed or tongue adapted to be moved into operative enga ement, a casing surrounding said serrations, a cover for said casing, and means mounted. on said cover to lock said reed or tongue in operative engagement with the serrations and to loci: the cover in place upon said casing.

(3. in combination, a movable element connected to the wheels of automobile, serrations upon said element, a sounding reed or tongue adapted to be moved into operative eng ement with said serrations, means to lock s id reed or tongue in such position, gear-shitting means for changing the driving ratio between the engine and the wheels of said auton'iobile, said gear shitting m ans having a neutral position, and means connected to said reed or tongue for locking said gear shifting mechanism in neutral position.

7. In an automobile, a driving shalt permanently connected to the automobile wheels for rotation therewith, a driving gear per manently rotatable with said shaft, a sound producing element adapted to the teeth of the gear to sound an alarm when the automobile is moved on its "wheels, manual means for moving the sound producing element into engagement with said gear, locking means releasable only by a proper lrey for automatically locking said sound producing element in engagement with said gear, said manual means being operable to move said sound producing element independently or the key for said locking means, and spring means for retracting said sound producing element from engagement with said gear.

8. in combination, an automobile drivingshaft, a gear on said shaft, a reed or tongue adapted to engage the teeth oi? said gear, a plunger for supporting said reed in engagement with said gear, locking means on said plunger tor automatically locking the pporting means when the reed is moved into operative engagement with the gear and keyoperated releasing means in said plunger for permitting disengagement ot' the reed from the gear.

9, in combination, an automobile driving shaft, a gear on said shaft, a movable element for producin an alarm signal adapted to engage the teeth of said gear, a plunger for supportin said reed in engagement with said gear, locking means for said plunger for automatically locking the supporting means when the reed is moved into operative engagement with the gear and key-operated releasing means for said plunger for pe mitting disengagement of the reed from the gear.

10. In an automobile alarm, a shaft of an automobile adapted to be rotated when the wheels of the automobile are moved, a casing into which said shaft extends, a rotatable alarm controlling element connected to the shaft, a relatively stationary alarm controlling element adapted to be engaged by said rotatable alarm controlling element to give an alarm only when said shaft is rotated, said rotatable and said stationary alarm elements being enclosed in said casing, means to move the relatively stationary element into and out of engaging position with the rotatable element, and means for locking the alarm controlling elements into engaging position with respect to each other, said locking means being disposed in said casing.

11. In an automobile alarm, a shaft of an automobile adapted to be rotated when the wheels of the automobile are moved, a casing into which said shaft extends, a rotatable alarm controlling element connected to the shaft, a relatively stationary alarm controlling element adapted to be engaged by said rotatable alarm controlling element to give an alarm only when said shaft is rotated, said rotatable and said stationary alarm controlling elements being enclosed in said casing, means to move the relatively sta tionary elements into and out of engaging position with the rotatable element, means for locking the alarm controlling element into engaging position with respect to each other, said locking means being disposed in said casing, said casing having a cover and means controlled by said locking means for locking said cover on said casing when the alarm elements are in engaging position.

12. In an automobile alarm, a shaft of an automobile adapted to be rotated when the wheels of the automobile are moved, a ing into which said shaft extends, a rotata ble alarm controlling element connected to the shaft, a relatively stationary alarm controlling element adapted to be engaged by said rotatable alarm controlling element to give an alarm only when said shaft is rotated, said rotatable and said stationary alarm controlling elements being enclosed in said casing, means to move the relatively stationary elements into and out of engaging position with the rotatable element, means for locking the alarm controlling element into engaging position with respect to each other, said locking means being disposed in said casing, a motor, gears between the motor and the Wheels, said gears having gear changing mechanism, and means controlled by said locking means for preventing operation of the gear change mechanism when the alarm controlling elements are in engaging position.

13. In an automobile, a gear box having gears for changing the driving ratio between engine and driving wheels, a propeller shaft projecting into said gear box; a rotatable alarm controlling element in the gear box connected to the propeller shaft, a relatively stationary alarmcontrolling element adapted to be moved into operable position with respect to the rotatable alarm control ling element, locking means for holding the alarm controlling element in operativeposition with respect to each other, and means controlled by the locking means for locking the gears in neutral position.

14.. In combination, a movable serrated element adapted to be connected positively to the wheels of a motor driven carriage, a casing enclosing said movable serrated element, a movable member projecting into said casing, a flexible signaling element adapted to be controlled by said movable member, said signaling element being adapted to be moved into the path of said serrations to give a theft preventing signal when the wheels of the carriage are moved, and key releasable locking means partially disposed within the casing for locking said movable member in position to give the signal.

15. In combination, a movable serrated element adapted to be positively connected to the wheels of a motor driven carriage, a casing enclosing said movable serrated ele ment, a movable member projecting into said casing, a flexible signaling element adapted to be controlled by said movable member, said signaling element being adapted to be moved into the path of said serrations to give a theft preventing signal when the wheels of the carriage are moved, key releasable lockin means partially disposed within the casing for locking said movable member, said casing having a removable cover, and means governed by said locking means for locking said cover upon the casing when said signaling element is in operative position.

16. In combination, a driving shaft, a serrated element rotatable with the shaft,

an audible alarm device adapted to cooperatewith the serrated element, manually operable means for bringing the audible alarm device and the serrated element into cooperating relation, a spring tending to separate said serrated element and said alarm device and means releasable only by a proper key for blocking the operation of said spring.

17. In combination, a driving shaft, a serrated element rotatable with said shaft, an audible alarm device adapted to cooperate with said serrated element. manually operable means for bringing the audible alarm device and the serrated element into cooperating relation, means tending to automatically separate said alarm device and said serrated element, and locking means for blocking the operation of said automatic means.

18. The combination with a motor vehicle transmission mechanism having a shiftable gear, of lock-controlled means for holding said gear from being shifted, and an alarm device actuated by said gear when so held.

19. The combination with a motor vehicle transmission mechanism having a shiftable gear, of lock controlled means for holding said gear from being shifted an alarm device actuated by said gear when so held, a housing inclosing the mechanism, a door 01' 10 said housing, and a locking device for the door controlled by the lock of the gear holding means.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 9 day of June, A. D. 1917.

HARRY P. TAYLOR. 

